countryhotelbreaks (OPL Leisure) have gone into administration

JudgeDekker

https://www.countryhotelbreaks.com/ According to their website Countryhotelbreaks (which is run by OPLLeisure) have got into trouble and are no longer operating. Presumably lots of people are holding vouchers that are now worthless. What has people's experience been, please? Are hotels that are booked for the future standing by those bookings? I guess not? Have people claimed back from the credit card companies using section 75? Any suggestions on next steps gratefully received.

Grumpy_chap

That's a real shame as I liked their holidays.

Grumpy_chap

I have thought about the OP's initial question during the course of the day.

If an individual purchased a voucher, there might well be limited route for redress unless the Administrators provide some route to honour vouchers, the voucher-holders will become nothing more than last in line penny-in-the-pound creditors. For some, depending on timescales, chargeback may be an option that is available to claim and, frankly, if you are in this position, you might as well try chargeback as you have nothing to lose. However, it is my understanding that S75 would not be available as a remedy because the consumer has purchased a gift voucher and received a gift voucher. It is the risk with any gift voucher.

"if the store you buy them from goes bust, the vouchers usually become worthless"

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/40400296/martin-lewis-warns-never-buy-gift-cards/

If the individual paid for a specific stay in a specific hotel on a specific date, then that might be more open to a resolution via consumer rights channels which may include chargeback or S75 if paid by credit card. I suppose the first thing I'd do in that scenario would be to contact the hotel and ask them to advise how they see the situation standing at the moment. Initially, be prepared for individual hotels to be vague as they may not have a definitive outcome given how recent the collapse of the business was (only a week ago, 12th October) though I understand that partner hotels were advise of the looming business failure a bit earlier (2nd October).

In either case, it is worth contacting the Liquidators.